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The El Rey Club, Searchlight, NV

The small mining town of Searchlight, NV has had its fair share of noteworthy residents. Located halfway between Needles, CA and Las Vegas, NV, it became a stopping point for road-weary travelers, a respite from the barren desert highways and heat.

Hollywood celebrities Clara Bow and Rex Bell made Searchlight their home. Legendary aviators, John Macready and William Harrell Nellis, and future Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, all resided in Searchlight.

However, perhaps the most noteworthy and influential figure in the town’s history remains relatively unknown to this day.

Willie Martello, the seventh son of a seventh son, went to Searchlight after his service with the U.S. Navy had ended. Having lost so many friends in Pearl Harbor he was something of a lost soul.

His family owned property in Searchlight and two of his brothers, Buddy and Albert, were already living there. Willie was given the advice from his family to go to Searchlight and, "see what you can do."

What Willie did brought in an estimated two million dollars worth of revenue a year to town that most people couldn’t find on a map.

What was once a town economically struggling from the loss of the once plentiful local silver and gold mine became a thriving oasis, welcoming vacationers wanting the finest food & entertainment.

Willie became the self-appointed Mayor and owner of Searchlight and helped bring in the town’s first telephone lines, swimming pool, even its own airport.

Willie Martello made Searchlight a place where Frank Sinatra, Betty Grable, Martin & Lewis, & Errol Flynn could escape the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and where the directorial debut of one Francis Ford Coppola could be made…well, sort of.

The unreal, but TRUE story of the little casino that changed Las Vegas FOREVER!

The THIRTEEN-TIME award-winning book, by Andy Martello is out NOW! The King of Casinos: Willie Martello and the El Rey Club has been sold in six different countries and has earned 13 awards, including an International Book Award, a USA Best Books award, a Readers' Favorite award, and it was named BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club.

To commemorate Nevada's 150th birthday, NewsReview.com named the book one of the essential 150 Things for 150 Years, a list of the best Nevada movies, songs, television shows, and books.

Check back for information about a major motion picture based upon this incredible book.

Andy continues to collect artifacts and stories from the El Rey Club. If you have any information to share or items for his collection, contact Andy Martello today!

About Me

Call 702-465-5604 or Visit www.andymartello.com.
Andy Martello is celebrating his 25th year as America's premier corporate entertainer. Andy has been seen on NBC's "Last Comic Standing", WGN's "The Bozo Show" and appeared in national television commercials. He has even performed for President George Bush (the original, NOT the sequel!)